Alec Baldwin Files Malicious Prosecution Lawsuit After Rust Shooting Manslaughter Case Dismissed
Photograph: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
Alec Baldwin has filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit six months after an involuntary manslaughter case against him, stemming from the fatal 2021 Rust shooting, was dismissed. The actor, 66, has initiated a civil complaint against the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, the First Judicial District Attorney, and prosecutors involved in the case accused them of “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act,” according to People magazine.
Baldwin’s legal team claims that the prosecutors were driven by a desire to convict him “for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost” regarding the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in October 2021.
In January 2024, Baldwin faced charges after a prop gun he was holding discharged, killing Hutchins. However, the charges were dropped in July 2024 when Baldwin’s lawyers argued that crucial evidence had been concealed by prosecutors. The prosecutors chose not to appeal the dismissal in December 2024.
The lawsuit alleges that a crew member called out “cold gun” to reassure Baldwin and others that the prop gun he had been handed contained only “dummy rounds” before the fatal shot was fired. “The prop fired a live round that killed Hutchins,” the complaint states.
Baldwin further claims that certain defendants intentionally concealed evidence and provided false testimonies in a bid to make him the “scapegoat” for the tragedy. The lawsuit targets District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey for their “malicious and unlawful pursuit” of Baldwin.
The amount Baldwin is seeking in general and compensatory damages will be determined during trial. He is also suing for legal fees and punitive damages. In a statement, Baldwin’s legal team, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, emphasized that “Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent.”
They added, “Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwin’s rights. We bring this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to anyone else.”
